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A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is also known as a nursing aide, orderly, patient care technician (PCT) or patient care assistant. Generally, a CNA performs the routine tasks under the supervision of registered nurse (RN) or other medical personnel.
These health professionals assist patients with eating, bathing and dressing. They respond to patients’ call lights and monitor patients’ health condition. Bottom line, nursing aides are often the principal caregivers to the patients. They have much more contact with patients than any other healthcare professional and often provide both mental and emotional support to patients as and when the situation arises. Since, some of the residents in the nursing facilities or long-term care facilities stay for months and even years, these health professionals develop trusting and harmonious relationship with patients.
To become a CNA in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, individuals are required to take specialized nursing assistant classes in accordance to the curriculum set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for nurses aides which will provide individuals with a foundation in patient care so that they are prepared to begin their nursing assistant career after graduation.
CNA Program Overview
As good spoken and written English and basic math is a pre-requisite of the CNA program, some educational facilities have a Nurse Aide entrance exam with a 75% exam score which will test your English and math skills.
CNA Tuition Fees and Course Reimbursement in Pennsylvania
The length of a CNA course in Pennsylvania ranges from two weeks to ten weeks depending on scheduled class dates. Be prepared for extra costs incurred to cover textbooks, uniform, physical checks, TB tests and certification exam fees.
However, by law, you can ask for a reimbursement of your CNA tuition and test fees from your future employer as long as your employer is a Nursing Care Facility which is Medicare and Medicaid approved AND your CNA training was completed within 365 days of hire. This is paid on a pro rate basis, first payment is made after 130 hours or work has been completed with the remaining cost reimbursed after an additional 130 hours of work at the facility has been completed. If, on the other hand you are already employed in a Nursing Care Facility, your employer is responsible to cover the full tuition and exam fees.
How Challenging is the CNA program?
On average, certified nursing aide programs are less challenging when compared to other health degrees such as nursing. As a result most students find the program easy to follow and therefore to complete. This is as long as you do the required reading and study. For students who laid their groundwork in high school and completed Bio, A&P and Micro the course will be a breeze.
The clinical rotation which is spent in a nursing home or long term care facility and which only lasts for a few weeks is perhaps the most challenging but also the most enjoyable so don’t be afraid of it. In fact most students wished to have spent more time on the clinicals during their training. The clinical exam is a little more challenging than the written exam so practice your skills.
CNA classes are aimed to teach individuals basic nursing techniques and procedures to help prepare them for entry level positions.
After completing a minimum of 100 hours of theoretical and clinical instruction in a Pennsylvania state approved training facility, individuals are qualified to apply for the nurse aide competency examination. The certification exam is comprised of two parts: a written part and a clinical skills part. In the written part, you will be asked certain objective questions with multiple choices whereas for the clinical exam individuals will need to demonstrate their skills. After successfully passing the exam, you will be licensed and placed on State Registry of Nursing Aides. If you don’t pass your exam the first time you have two more attempts to do.
If you have decided on a state-approved CNA training facility in Pennsylvania, it is worth your while to research the ratio of students that completed the CNA course and passed Pennsylvania Nurse Aide certification exam. This is a good qualifier for your chosen college in addition to the cost, program schedule and lecturer to student ratio. The smaller the ratio, the more individualized your training will be.
Job Opportunities Post-Nurses Aide Training in Pennsylvania
Once you have completed your training and passed the certification exam with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, individuals can use the designation of certified nursing assistants after their names and are free to apply for work. According to statistical data, 42% of graduates apply in nursing care facilities whereas only 27% percent end up working in hospitals.
Due to heavy competition for hospital vacancies you will want to round out your nursing aide training and complete other relevant qualifications such as Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, electroencephalographic interpretation course and CPR certification to help you stay ahead of competition. This will also result in higher wages.
CNA Salaries in Pennsylvania
- Starting Salary Entry-Level: $10
- Average Salary: $13.52
- With 5 yrs experience: $17
On average you can expect a starting salary of around $9-$10 but if you have certification and the right specialty it is possible to get paid up to $12 in your first job. According to BLS government figures the average CNA salary in Pennsylvania is $13.52 per hour which is about $28,110 per year and with experience nursing assistants in Pennsylvania can earn upwards of $17 per hour.
Future Career Prospects
The CNA training program and work experience is a great stepping stone to becoming a registered nurse (RN) or licensed nurse practitioner (LPN). Although it is not a pre-requisite for nursing studies a CNA training course and nursing assistant work experience will be invaluable for your continued studies. Still, other CNA graduates pick a particular specialty to specialize in such as in acute care, ER, telemetry or neurology providing them with a competitive edge when applying for their first job after graduation. Whatever your career plans there will always be a need for newly certified nursing assistant graduates in the labor marketplace.
Useful Resources for Nurses Aide Trainees in Pennsylvania
For training inquiries, training schools etc.
PA Department of Education
E: ra-natcep@pa.gov
T: 717 722 0814
For FBI background checks.
PA Department of Ageing
T: 717 265 7887
For tuition reimbursement inquiries.
PA Department of Human Services
Offices of Long-Term Living
T: 717 772 2570
For examination inquiries.
American Red Cross
T: 1800 795 2350
List of Approved CNA Classes in Pennsylvania
As individuals are required to complete 100 hours of clinical and theoretical CNA training in a Pennsylvania Department of Health approved nursing aide program we have compiled a list of approved CNA training courses in Pennsylvania offered in nursing homes and educational facitlies.
Search for CNA programs by County
CNA Programs in Allegheny County in Pennsylvania
Highland Park Care Center
745 North Highland Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Phone: (412) 362 6622
Parkway West AVTS
7101 Steubenville Pike
Oakdale, PA 15071-9406
Phone: (412) 923 1772
Pittsburgh Job Corps
Ctr.7175 Highland Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Phone: (412) 441 8700
CNA Programs in Armstrong County in Pennsylvania
Lenape Technical School
2215 Chaplin Avenue
Ford City, PA 16226
Phone: (724) 763 7116
CNA Programs in Beaver County in Pennsylvania
Beaver Co Career & Tech Center
145 Poplar Drive,
Monaca, PA 15061-2586
Phone: (724) 728 5800
Rochester Manor Nursing Home
174 Virginia Avenue
Rochester, PA 15074
Phone: (724) 775 6400
CNA Classes in Bedford County in Pennsylvania
Bedford Co. Technical Center
195 Pennknoll Road, Everett, PA 15537
Phone: (814) 623 2760
CNA Classes in Berks County in Pennsylvania
Berks Career & Tech. Center
1057 County Road, Leesport, PA 19533
Phone: (610) 374 4073
Berks Technical Institute
145 North 6th St. Reading, PA 19610
Phone: (610) 372 1722
CNA Classes in Blair County in Pennsylvania
Greater Altoona CTC
1500 Fourth Avenue,
Altoona, PA 16602
Phone: (814) 946 8469
CNA Classes in Bradford County, PA
Northern Tier Career Center
120 Career Center Lane,
Towanda, PA 18848-9731
Phone: (570) 265 8111
CNA Programs in Bucks County, PA
Middle Bucks Inst. Tech.
2740 Old York Road,
Jamison, PA 18929
Phone: (215) 343 2480
Upper Bucks County Tech. Sch
3115 Ridge Road
Perkasie, PA 18944
Phone: (215) 795 2911
CNA Programs in Cambria County, PA
Admiral Peary AVTS
948 Ben Franklin Highway
Ebensburg, PA 15931
Phone: (814) 472 6490
Commonwealth Tech. Inst.
727 Goucher Street,
Johnstown, PA 15901
Phone: (814) 254 0400
CNA Programs in Chester County, PA
People Technical School, Inc.
148 Church Road
Elverson, PA 19520
Phone: (610) 384 1361
CNA Programs in Columbia County, PA
Columbia Montour
5050 Sweppenheiser Drive
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Phone: (570) 784 8040
CNA Classes in Delaware County in Pennsylvania
Care First Career Institute.
8400 West Chester Pike
Upper Darby, PA 19082
Phone: (610) 572 3440
Delaware Co Comm. Coll.
901 S. Media Line Road
Media, PA 19063
Phone: (610) 359 5144
CNA Classes in Fayette County in Pennsylvania
Community Training Institute
140 North Beeson Avenue
Uniontown, PA 15401
Phone: (724) 430 302
South Fayette Nursing Center
252 Main Street
Markleysburg, PA 15459
Phone: (724) 329 4830
CNA Classes in Franklin County in Pennsylvania
Franklin County CTC
2463 Loop Road
Chambersburg, PA 17201
Phone: (717) 263 9033
CNA Classes in Luzerne County in Pennsylvania
Luzerne County Comm. Coll.
1333 South Prospect Street,
Nanticoke, PA 18634
Phone: (570) 740 0495
Meadows Nursing & Rehab. Cntr
4 East Center Hill Road,Dallas, PA 18612
Phone: (570) 675 8600
Keystone Job Corps Center
235 West Foothills Drive
Drums, PA 18222
Phone: (570) 708 0608
CNA Classes in Montgomery County Pennsylvania
N. Montco Tech Career CT
1265 Sumneytown Pike,
Lansdale, PA 19446-4796
Phone: (215) 368 1177
Central Montco Tech HS
(S)821 Plymouth Road,
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
Phone: (610) 277 2301
CNA Classes in Philadelphia, PA
American Red Cross/S.East Chap
2221,Chestnut Street,Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 299 4154
Phila. Academy for Nurse Aid Training
220 West Upsal Street,Philadelphia, PA 1991
Phone: (215) 370 4960
Philadelphia Job Corps Life Science
2810 S. 20th Street, Bldg. 12
Philadelphia, PA 19145
Phone: (215) 471 9693
PATS -Philadelphia Aide Training School
7216 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119
Phone: (215) 248 4560
CNA Classes in Somerset County in Pennyslvania
Somerset Co Tech Center
S 281 Vo-Tech Road
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 443 3651
CNA Classes in Westmoreland County in Pennsylvania
Education & Tech Inst.
219 Donohoe Road,
Greensburg, PA 15601
Phone: (724) 327 2395
Northern Westmoreland CTC -S
705 Stevenson Blvd., New Kensington, PA 15068
Phone: (724) 335 9389
Final thoughts on the CNA programs and Career
Breaking into the field of nursing can be challenging, but for the right individual, it can ultimately be very rewarding, financially and otherwise. You will get a chance to really make a difference in someone else’s life when they most need it. Keep in mind however that as a career, nursing whilst satisfying can be both emotionally and physically demanding, and it is not a right fit for absolutely everybody. So if you are planning to apply for a certified nursing assistant program in Pennsylvania, ensure that you spend the time to research it and are well prepared for the study and work that is involved.